Indicators for dates or other information



' Jan. 6, 1970 R.II BE-GUIN 3,487,572

INDICATORS FOR DATES OR OTHER'INFOR'MATION Fiied March e'. 1968 4Sheets-Sheet 1 R. BEGUIN Jan. 6, 1970' 3,487,572 INDICATORS FOR DATES onOTHER INFORMATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1968 Jan.,6, 1970 R.BEGUIN 3,487,572

INDICATORS FOR DATES OR OTHER INFORMATION Filed Max-ch 6, 1968 4Sheets-Sheet 5 -I 1970 R. BEGUIN INDICATORS FOR DATES OR OTHERINFORMATION Filed March a, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

United States Patent O F 3,487,572 INDICATORS FOR DATES OR OTHERINFORMATION Rene Beguin, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Test, So-

ciete Anonyme dEtudes Techniques, Chene-Bougerles, Switzerland, acorporation of Switzerland Filed Mar. 6, 1968, Ser. No. 711,092 Claimspriority, application Switzerland, Mar. 20, 1967, 3,949/ 67 Int. Cl.G091? 13/34 US. Cl. 40-115 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anindicator which comprises a stack of plates each carrying on its surfacea number of dates. The plates are moved in succession from one side ofthe stack past a window and are returned to the other side. The drivingmeans can be a pawl or a toothed wheel mechanism. The plates haveco-operatin g abutment means whereby a driven plate initiates movementof the next plate and then carries it to a position where it can beengaged by the driving mechanism. A driven plate always has at least oneof its ends in the stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an indicator. Theinvention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to anindicator for indicating the date on a watch or clock.

It is an object of the invention to provide an indicator which iscompact and reliable in operation.

To this end there is provided an indicator comprising a plurality ofthin plates disposed in a stack and driving and guiding means adapted tocause the plates to move in succession past a reading position, theplates being taken from one side of the pile and returned on the otherside of the stack, wherein the improvement comprises driving and guidingmeans adapted to drive a plate situated partly outside the pile byengaging a part of the plate that is free from the stack and by makingit slide along the adjacent plate in the stack during its withdrawalfrom the stack, and abutment means on each plate adapted to co-operatewith abutment means on the adjacent plate so that the driven plate pullsthe adjacent plate with it before such driven plate is completely freefrom the stack, whereby to bring the adjacent plate in its turn withinrange of the driving means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of theinvention'will become apparent from the following description ofexemplary embodiments given with reference to the appended drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of indicator according tothe invention, this embodiment forming a date-indicator in a watch orclock;

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line 22 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 3a are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation ofthe indicator in FIG. 1;

FIGURES 4 and 4a show details of a pawl driving mechanism of tbeindicator in FIG. 1 on a larger scale and in two different operatingpositions;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a detail of a plate sector of theindicator in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the indicator in FIG. 1;

FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic representa- 3,487,572 PatentedJan. 6, 1970 ICC tions of other embodiments of indicator according tothe invention;

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are views of a variant of the driving mechanism ofthe indicator in FIG. 1 in three different operating positions;

FIGURE 14 shows in diagrammatic form a detail of an indicator comprisingplates stacked in the form shown in FIG. 8;

FIGURE 15 is a partial plan view of a variant of the driving mechanismof the plates of an indicator comprising plate sectors;

FIGURES 16, 17 and 18 are perspective views of different attachmentmeans for connecting the plates;

FIGURES 19 and 20 are diagrammatic plan views of series of platesattached by the means shown in FIGS. 17 and 18;

FIGURES 21 and 22 are diagrammatic views showing variants of theindicator in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The date-indicator shown in FIGS. 1to 6 comprises, under a watch or clock face shown diagrammatically at 1,four thin plates sectors 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d disposed in a stack on asupport 3. These plates sectors are intended to move past a window 1a ofthe face 1.

The four plates sectors have in plan the form of annular sectors of thesame diameter. They are disposed around an inner ring 4 rigidly securedto the face 1, and are movable round this ring as explained hereinafter.

The inner arcuate edges of the plates 2 have regularly spaced recesses5. These recesses 5 are adapted to cooperate with a driving pawl 6disposed at one end of a loop spring 7, the other end of which issecured at 8 to a barrel wheel 9 rotating at the rate of l revolutionevery 12 hours.

The pawl 6 bears resiliently on the inner wall 10 of the ring 4 (FIG.4). But this ring 4 has an aperture 11 in which two recesses 5 of theplate sectors can appear. When the pawl 6 passes opposite the aperture11 it falls into the first uncovered recess 5 and drives the engagedplate sector through an angle corresponding to the angular spacing ofadjacent recesses before returning to the ring (FIG. 4a).

The aperture 11 is situated in an angular position such that the pawl 6rotates the engaged plate sector at noon and midnight by an amountcorresponding to one spacing of the recesses on each occasion.

In the position shown in FIG. 1 the pawl 6 co-operates with the platesector 2a. This plate extends over an arc of 305 and as shown occupiesthe position A.

The other three plate sectors 2b, 2c, and 2d, which are at rest in theposition shown in FIG. 1, are then in the superimposed position andoccupy the arc B. Each plate sector when returned to the bottom of thestack at the end of its movement past aperture 11 by the pawl 6 is leftin this angular position B.

In the are C corresponding to the clear space between the ends of thethree superimposed plate sectors 2b, 2c and 2d, the plate sector 2a,which is in the top position in the left part of FIG. 1, flexesdownwardly to pass under the stack so that it is below the other platesectors in the right part of the figure. The plate sector 2a driven bythe pawl 6 is thus caused to pass progressively from the top to thebottom of the stack as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. g

In the angular position shown in FIG. 1, a number 22 on the plae sector2a is opposite the left half of the window 111; this window extends overan arc corresponding to two recesses 5. Driving through one spacing atnoon will bring this number 22 into the right half of the window, i.e.without changing the date. On the succeeding advance at midnight thenumber 23 will appear in the window 1a and will remain there for twice12 hours.

In a variant of the indicator the window 1a may extend over an arccorresponding to a single recess 5, each of the numbers then beingcarried twice on the plate sectors, so that the first appears frommidnight to noon and the second from noon to midnight. The numbersvisible in the morning and those that are visible in the afternoon maybe in different colours.

At its rear end the plate sector 2a has a stop 12 projecting from itslower surface (FIG. 3) and situated on the same circumference as a stop13 situated at the front end of the plate sector 2b and projecting fromthe upper surface of that plate (FIG. 3). These stops 12 and 13 areformed, for example, by a projection punched out of the plates (FIG. 5).

Thus, when the stop 12 of the plate sector 2a engages the stop 13 of theplate sector 2b the latter plate is driven after the plate 2a (FIG. 3a).

FIG. 3 shows the passage of the plate sector 2a past the window 1a whilethat plate alone is being driven. FIG. 3a shows the stage in which theplate 21) carried along with the plate 2a and is thereby driven afterthe plate 2a.

As coupling between two successive plates takes place while the leadingplate still overlaps the led plate, the second plate is directed underthe pile even in the absence of other guide means.

The plate sectors may be of the same or different lengths. In theexample shown the 31 possible dates are, for example, distributed overtwo sectors of 15 recesses 5 and over two sectors of 16 recesses 5, orin all over an arc of 62 recesses advancing at the rate of 2 recesses aday.

The four-plate indicator that has just been described enables an arc ofabout 20 to be given to each date on the plates, whereas if the 31 dateswere on a single disc the are available for each date would be onlyabout 11 for a disc driven every 24 hours or about 5 .5 for a discdriven at noon and midnight. A date-indicator may thus be more easilyprovided on watches of small diameter than previously.

By multiplying the number of plates the number of items of informationmay also be increased, and the plates may be in the form of thin sheets,of metal ribbon, plastics or paper for example, so that the overall sizeof the stack is small.

In the indicator described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 the advance ofthe plate sectors is gradual and passage from one date to anotherextends over an appreciable time.

In a variant of the indicator driving mechanism shown in FIGS. 11, 12and 13, the pawl for driving the plate sectors is adapted to actuate thelatter abruptly and in jerks.

In this variant a barrel wheel 20 drives a pawl 21 disposed at the rearend of a loop spring 22 secured to an arm 23 pivoting with a limitedangular play on a hub 20a of the wheel.

The pawl 21 has a front nose 24 adapted to co-operate with the recesses25 of the plate sectors 26 and a rear nose 27, which is smaller than thenose 24 and is adapted to engage in an auxiliary recess 28 of a fixedring 29.

When the pawl 21 pulled by the spring 22 falls into the first uncoveredrecess 25a the rear nose 27 engages in the auxiliary recess 28 (FIG.11). The wheel 20 then continues to rotate, stretching the spring 22,until the end 23a of the arm 23 abuts on the rear part 2111 of the pawl,so that the latter is released from the auxiliary recess 28. Thereleased pawl 21 is then abruptly pulled forward by the spring 22 andrapidly drives the plate sector through one angular distance beforereturning to the ring 29 '(FIG. 12).

In the mechanism that has just been described the arm 23 is driven bymeans of lost-motion coupling formed by an arm 30 projecting radiallyfrom the side of the hub 20a of the wheel 20 and co-operating accordingto the direction of rotation with one or other of the ends 31, 32 of thecentral part of the arm 23,

The arm 30 drives the arm 23 in the normal operating direction indicatedby the arrow F; a finger 34 on the pawl 21 then remains beyond the reachof a hook 33 of the arm 30 (FIG. 11). But if the arm 30 is caused toturn in the opposite direction the hook 33 comes under the finger 34 ofthe pawl and then retains the latter radially (FIG. 12).

Thus a rearward rotation of the wheel 20 and the arm 30 may be effectedwithout the pawl 21 retained by the hook 33 falling into the recesses ofthe plate sector (FIG. 13). When rotation is resumed in the forwarddirection F the pawl 21 is released from the hook 33. This enables thedate to be adjusted easily by forward or rearward rotation.

In another variant of the driving mechanism shown in FIG. 15 a wheel 40rotating once every 12 hours engages with a wheel 41 whose diameter istwice as large, so that such wheel 41 rotates once every 24 hours. Thewheel 41 has a catch 42, which actuates in the course of its movement atoothed wheel 43 permanently engaged with teeth 44 cut in the inner edgeof the plates 45". A bar biased into engagement with the wheel 43 keepsthe wheel 43 in its stop position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the rectangular plates, disposed onedge, form a stack in the form of a sector of a hollow cylinder.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the plates, each in the form of anannular sector, are guided so as to pass from one side to the other ofthe stack by turning over. FIG. 14 shows a detail of this. The top plate46, which moves past a window 47, is pulled from the stack 48 by a pawldriving mechanism shown diagrammatically at 49. This mechanism causesthe plate to move forward step by step, and the plate is guided in ahairpin slot 50, which returns it under the pile. This turning over isalso effected in the embodiments in FIGS. 9 and 10, in which therectangular plates are stacked respectively in the form of a sector of ahollow cylinder and a prismatic stack.

In these last three embodiments indications on both sides of the tabletsare therefore caused to move past a window or any other form of readingmeans.

In FIGS. 16, 17 and 18, diiferent forms of abutment means for theattachment of successive ones of the plates are shown. In the form shownin FIG. 16, the ends of the plates are bent back to form hooks 51 and52. In the form shown in FIG. 17, the ends of the plates are cut in theform of dovetails. To prevent the simultaneous driving of severalsuperimposed plates, one plate is provided with two female dovetails 53,while the next plate has two male dovetails 54 (FIG. 19). Thus eachplate can only be coupled with the adjacent plate.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 the abutments means are formed byslightly raised tongues 55 formed on the edge of an aperture 56 cut outof the plate. In this variant, to prevent the simultaneous driving ofseveral plates, the paired abutment means are disposed alternately onthe right and left edges of the plates as shown in FIG. 20.

With the hooks shown in FIG. 16 or the tongues shown in FIG. 18, the endparts of the coupled plates remain in the superimposed position and thestack of plates occupies a little more space. With the dovetails (FIG.17) the plates are fiat and are placed end to end, occupying the minimumamount of space.

According to the attachment means used, passage from one side of thestack to the other can be eflected without special guides, as showndiagrammatically in FIG. 21, or along a continuous guide, as shown inFIG. 22.

Owing to the small overall size of an indicator embodying the inventiona date-indicator for the whole year may be provided in a watch or clock,i.e., an indicator having 365 successive positions.

The indicator according to the invention may also be used in a clock orwatch to provide information other than the date. It may also be usedfor purposes other than clocks or Watches with driving means of othertypes. Thus the plates may for example show the departure times of thesuccessive trains serving a given line, while electromagnetic actuatingmeans enable the indicator to be remote-controlled so as to change theindication given after the departure of each train.

According to another application the plates may carry photographicplates and move past a projector.

I claim:

1. An indicator comprising a plurality of thin plates disposed in astack and driving and guiding means adapted to cause the plates to movein succession past a reading position, the plates being taken from oneside of the pile and returned on the other side of the stack wherein theimprovement comprises driving and guiding means adapted to drive a platesituated partly outside the pile by engaging a part of the plate that isfree from the stack and by making it slide along the adjacent plate inthe stack during its withdrawal from the stack, and abutment means oneach plate adapted to co-operate with abutment means on the adjacentplate so that the driven plate pulls the adjacent plate with it beforesuch driven plate is completely free from the stack, whereby to bringthe adjacent plate in its turn within range of the driving means.

2. An indicator according to claim 1, wherein the plates are disposedflat and the guiding and driving means are adapted to move the platesfrom one side of the stack to the other as a result of rotation of theplates about an axis that is approximately perpendicular to their plane.

3. An indicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plates are in theform of annular sectors.

4. An indicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein each plate is in the formof an annular sector which extends over an are greater than 180 and theaxis of rotation passes through the centre of curvature of each annularsector so that a plate, during transfer, always has at least one of itsends in the stack.

5. An indicator as claimed in claim 1, comprising generally rectangularplates disposed on edge in a stack in the form of a sector of a hollowcylinder and wherein the driving and guiding means are adapted to movethe plates from one side of the stack to the other as a result of arotation about an axis corresponding approximately to that of the stack.

6. An indicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stack extends over anare greater than 180 so that a plate during transfer always has at leastone of its ends in the stack.

7. An indicator as claimed in claim 1, comprising generally rectangularplates disposed in a prismatic stack and wherein the driving and guidingmeans are adapted to move the plates from one side of the pile to theother along a hairpin path.

8. An indicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the developed length ofthe path along which the plates are moved is shorter than the length ofthe plates so that a plate during transfer always has at least one ofits ends in the stack.

9. An indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving meanscomprise a rotatable pawl adapted to cooperate with teeth cut in oneedge of the plates, such pawl sliding against the Wall of a guide ringhaving an aperture bounding a limited arc for driving the plate, theteeth in the one edge of a driven plate being engaged only when the pawlpasses the aperture so as to cause the plate to advance step by step.

10. An indicator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pawl is driven bymeans of a resilient member and comprises an element adapted to retainthe pawl momentarily in order to stretch the resilient member, thearrangement being such that the engaged plate advances abruptly throughthe arc corresponding to the aperture in the guide ring on the releaseof the resilient member.

11. An indicator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the driving meanscomprise retaining means engageable with the pawl for holding the pawlin an inoperative position while it crosses the aperture in the guidering.

12. An indicator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the retaining means isarranged automatically to engage the pawl When it is driven to the rear.

13. An indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment means areformed by attachment means adapted to connect the plates end to endwithout superimposition of the assembled plates.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,728 12/1913 Smith 4078.092,764,828 10/1956 Wolaver 40----115 2,810,224 10/ 1957 Harrison 401 13EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

